Bulb.



HI W. LESTER;

BULB. APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1911.

1,025,986. Patented ma 14, 912.

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HOWARD W. LESTER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR '16 THE POST &LESTER COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

Burs.

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, I'IOVVARD W. Lnsrnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bulbs,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bulbs.

A bulb embodying my invention is pri-- marily adapted for use inconnection with, or as a part of, a signal device which may be a horn,Whistle or something of an equiva lent nature which is sounded by meansof compressed air. It is'the custom to make the bulbs of rubber and-tocap the same with a metallic ferrulewhich fits the neck of the bulb intowhich altubefis introduced, this ferrule being intended theoretically toproflhese bulbs are usually mounted upon parts which aresubjected toconsiderable-jars andshocks and naturally the jars will vibratethebulbs, As the range of movement ofthe ,bulbs 'is very great, thebulb. crystallizesat the 'center of motion thereof and" ultimatelybreaks through, it

' being understood that the inner end of the ferrule tigjlitly orcloselyembraces the bulb or its neck. I provide aconstructionwhereinthis diliiculty is eliminated or at least re duced to theminimum, by virtue of which I the lifeof the bulb is materiallylengthened. I provide a ferrule with a flange which pro jects inwardlytherefrom such a distance that when the bulb does oscillate thebucklingor bending area is widely distributed and is not local zed, This flangeis preferably. though not necessarily, integral with I the ferrule andits inner surface is normally wholly free of the bulb so as to providefor a certain amount of movement of the bulb without the same coming incontact with the inner wall of said flange. 011 maximum vi-' bration inany direction, however, of the bulb, the inner and free edge of thisflange is met'by the bulb, and the latter will be collapsed at a pointremote from the rigid connection of the bulb with said ferrule therebyreducing the possibility of crystallization by, vibration to the leastpossible extent. It should be understood that I do not claim a bulbproyided with a ferrule rigidly connected therewith as this is not of myinvention, but I do claim such parts associ ated together where theferrule has a flange Specification of Letters Patent. Application filedJuly 29, 1911. Serial No. 641,52.

possessing the characteristics to which I have alluded.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a bulb embodying my invention,the outer portion of the same together with the flanged ferrule being insection, this show ing being u-ade so that those skilled in the art canpractice the invention. I

I do not limit myself to the disclosure made by said drawing andthe'following description thereof; I may depart therefrom in severalrespects within the scope of the invention included in said claims. I

Referring to said drawing, the numeral 2 denotes the body of the bulbwhich is provided with a neck 3. The said body. and neck may be andpreferably are of the usual character. Fitted around the neck 3 is aferrule l theliead 'of which overlies the outer edge of said neck, andextending into said neck is a tube or nipple 5 the head of said ferrulehaving an opening or perforaution through which said tube or nippleextends. i

In assembling the parts the ferrule I is first applied to the'neck 3after which the tube or nipple,5 with rubber cement applied to itsexterior surface, is introduced into said neck,'Whi ch has the effect ofpressing the stock of the neck into firm and solid contact with saidferrule to about the linefzl', by reason of which the neck, ferrule andtube are permanently connected together.

Theferrule at is shown provided. with an annular bead or .ridge'G insidethe same which can be easily formed by spinning an exterior groove insaid ferrule so that when the tube ornipple 5 lSiDSGI'tQd in placethestock or rubber of the neck firmly against said bead 6 to therebyaugmentthe holding effect. It is needless-how.- ever, for nie to furtherdescribe the construction of the ferrule, neck and tube, as the same inthemselves form no part of the present invention, being as alreadyint-imated of kinds now in general The ferrule 4 is provided wi h an inIatenteolllfay is, rare.

3 is forced wardly extending flange 7 which preferably is ofprogressively increasing diameter to ward the inner end thereof; -Iprefer that the inner surface of this tapered flange be normally whollyfree of the adjacent portion of the neck 3, as in this way I provide fornormal or ordinary vibration of the bulb which occurs for instance whenthe lbs .1 iii same is mounted on an automobile. If the flange 7 closelyhugged the neck 3, the bulb when it is bent would flex right at the edgeof the flange as is the case now at -the inner edge of customaryferrule, and this flexure at such point, which is abrupt, causescrystallization which effect, as will be obvious, I avoid. I have theneck of the bulb normally free of this flange and I find in practicewhen the bulb collapses, that the collapsing zone is considerable or isas already stated, spread over a wide area and is not confined to onepoint, by virtue of which the life of the bulb is greatly prolonged. Iprefer as shown that the inner Wall of the flange be upon a curve. Saidinner curved surface, it will be observed, is of progressivelyincreasing diameter toward the body 2 of the bulb, which is a simplemeans for insuring that the inner surface of said flange will be out ofcontact normally with the neck of'the bulb, although as Will be apparentI do not restrict myself to this relation. As a matter of furtherprotecting the bulb I prefer that the free or inne edge of the flange 7be rounded so that there is no tendency whatsoever of this edge cuttinginto the rubber or other material of Which said bulb is composed, andthis rounding may be secured by doubling or bending the free portion ofthe flange on itself as shown at 8.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture a compressible bulb having a reducedneck, and a ferrule permanently fitted to the neck and having a flangeflared toward the larger portion of the bulb, the inner face of theflange being spaced from the bulb.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a compressible bulb having areduced neck, a ferrule fitted to the outer end of the neck and providedwith a. perforated head overlying the outer edge of said neck, and anipple extending into said neck through the perforation of said head,the ferrule having an internal annular bead fitting against the neck andalso having a flange flared toward the larger portion of the bulb, theinner face of said flange being spaced from said bulb.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD W. LESTER.

Witnesses L. L. MARKEL, F. E. ANDERSON.

